New tech helps urban folk grow own food, cut costs
Agrictech team leader Praygod Japhet explains to Danish ambassador Einar Jensen how a compact soil farming system works. The system enables farmers to grow up to 300 plants in small spaces using modern technology. PHOTO | HELLEN NACHILONGO
What you need to know:
A modern way of farming using modern technology and digital advancement system on a smaller space has been introduced.
Dar es Salaam. A risk-free soil farming system that enables farmers to grow up to 300 plants in small spaces using modern technologies and digital advancement has been introduced.
The product measures just three metres long, two metres wide and two-and-a-half metres high.
Through the technology, plants are inserted on the top of containers which have a solution of water and plant nutrients, thus reducing water loss by 90 per cent.
The technology was developed by Agritech Limited Company and is based on harnessing the power of modern technologies and digital advancement to create smart, sustainable, environmentally friendly and affordable solutions to problems that are facing the agricultural sector in Tanzania and Africa at large.
AgriTec team leader Praygod Japhet told The Citizen that they are targeting people who want to reduce expenditure on food because urban residents find it difficult to grow their own food and spend most of their incomes on food.
“Reports show that urban people spend up to 70 per cent of their monthly incomes on food. We have come up with this technology to assist them grow crops on their own and reduce expenditure on food,” he said.
According to him, their aim is to help urban dwellers and encourage them to farm in small spaces. Mr Japhet added that the product had so far been tested for six months in a pilot study, which, among other things, included collect customers’ views.
“The pilot study has helped us to shape our product according to customers’ needs.
“We have managed to get at least 20 firm orders from customers in Dar es Salaam, Morogoro, Tanga and Arusha. We expect to start supplying the product in Tanga next month,” he said.
Mr Japhet stressed that they do installation of technology to regions, areas with e water shortage and small backyard space.
“The installation of technology depends on the size of your backyard but our standard price is $500,” he said.
Ministry of agriculture, director of policy and planning Mr Obey Assery said the adoption of the technology would increase food supply in the country.
“The government alone cannot afford to implement every project therefore, through the agriculture policy, we very much support such initiative.
